Essential Oils & Herbal ~ Clay Facials & Packs

Synopsis ~ An overview of the many types of clay that is available for masks, packs and baths, including Moor peat and formulas and recipes to use for best results. Includes herbs and essential oils.

Compiled by Jeanne Rose ~ 2000 – 2019

Formulas are original to Jeanne Rose

INTRODUCTION TO CLAY

CLAY IS ADDED TO WATER ~ When you add clay to water, a slurry forms because the clay distributes itself evenly throughout the water. If you add water to clay a mud forms because the clay cannot distribute itself completely in the water (herbal water or hydrosol).

Before recorded history, many cultures used and promoted clay because of its wonderful qualities. Many types of clay and many peoples including Indian tribes of the Andes, Central Africa and the aborigines of Australia, found and used volcanic ash clay internally. They used the drawing power of clay to eliminate intestinal toxins, ulcers, for leprosy, infections and even tuberculosis. They used it as a pack or compress for its healing qualities. Clay or mud baths are helpful to pull toxic metals from the skin and body and the best spas in the world feature full-body baths of clay and mud. Many books are available on the topic of the healing power of clay, used both internally and externally.

            Clay comes in many different colors, textures, and adsorption abilities.  Clay adsorbs rather than absorbs, that is, toxins attach to the outside of the clay particles (adsorb) rather than being taken up (absorb) by the clay particles. Clay adsorbs toxins both externally on the skin or internally if taken with water as a going-to-bed drink. Clay will rid the body of pimples and boils or wherever there is acne, pimples or infection if taken as a drink as well as applied externally as a pack.

WHERE TO FIND GOOD CLAY ~ This varies in every locality and many types and colors of clay can be found. As an example, in much of the U.S.A. good ‘blue’ clay seems to ‘grow wild’. In some areas there are local clays as good as ‘blue’ clay…some may even say better? Blue Clay is also known as blue shale and soapstone in some areas. Good places to find blue clay is in excavations such as rock quarries, strip mines, building excavations, roadway cuts in hillsides, refuse dump earth excavations, etc. You will see it along roadway cuts or in piles of strip-mining overburden. It may have rock hard ‘shale’ with it, which sometimes breaks down into good clay, but the shale is discarded in favor of solid-free clay. If your state does not have any blue clay ask the park departments where they get clay for their tennis courts, ask local pottery and brick factories where they get clay. You may also just ‘google’ clay to find various kinds for skin care and internal uses. See some Sources at the end of the article.

MEDICINAL USES OF CLAY ~ Use clay in many ways; medicinally, taken internally and applied externally for a variety of conditions.  Red Montmorillonite (Rhassoul) is the most active and detoxifying. Green Illite is the most versatile and use it externally for drainage or internally to detoxify. Use Pink Kaolin clay for facial masks, as it is gentle and cleansing. Use White Kaolin clay “to balance the pH of the body” and to take internally as an anti-diarrhea agent. Zeolite clay is also for internal use.

           Rhiannon Lewis mentions that one of her best clay cases was with a young policeman with an old shoulder injury that flared up again following a skiing accident. She used green clay with hydrosol poultices (2 cm. thickness), left on for 45 minutes prior to applying an anti-inflammatory blend of essential oils in Hypericum and Arnica macerated oils. The clay added to the dramatic results that he experienced after just 2 applications.

            Clay comes in many different colors, textures, and adsorption abilities. Add clay to water not water to clay. Add a spatula of clay powder to a beaker of water and watch what happen. Clay does not dissolve in water, it will form a suspension, and then eventually the clay will settle to the bottom of the beaker or you can mix it (clay and water) together for a mask. Clay adsorbs rather than absorbs, that is, things attach to the outside of the clay particles (adsorb) rather than being taken up (absorb) by the clay particles. It adsorbs toxins* both externally on the skin or internally if taken with water as a going to bed drink. When you apply Clay properly externally as a poultice/compress/mask, it will rid the body of pimples and boils or wherever there is acne, pimples or infection.

           It is easy to put together a clay mask or pack: simply take a bit of clay (1-2 t.) and add it  to 1-2 teaspoon water/hydrosol, let it soak a bit, enough to mix, using a non-metal mixer or wooden spatula or your finger, apply it to your face or part of the body being treated, let it dry and then remove with plenty of water.  Follow with a spray of mineral water or hydrosol.

If you are not ready for a steady diet of clay, explore the world of clay facials that you can make at home. Clays are natural silicates of the earth and are perfect as a base for a facial mask. They draw toxins* out of the skin and they restore the skin back to a natural balance. They may redden the skin and it is best to use a clay facial mask only once a week, more than that may be too drying to the face. Do not use a clay mask just before an important event.  The cosmetic clays today are useful, convenient, cleansing and invigorating. The clays most widely used for facials include Bentonite, French green clay and Rhassoul or red clay.  Do not mix different types of clay together as they each have their own qualities.

*toxins – I am using the word toxins in the way the cosmetic industry uses it ~ and that is toxins are anything that damages whether topical or ingested. Not necessarily a word that is accepted but one that is useful never-the-less. The body’s natural defense is to push ‘toxins’ out through sweat, pimples and blackheads. When our body absorbs toxins, we push it out through our skin creating acne and other skin conditions. You can detox the skin through facials and products.

             Activated Charcoal is a great first-aid remedy and skin care treatment along with your clay. It too can be used together with a bit of hydrosol or water to make a first-class adsorbing compress or mask. A bottle of it should always be available in your first-aid kit along with clay.

            Activated charcoal is a form of carbon processed to have small, low-volume pores that increase the surface area available for adsorption and chemical reactions. It is in hospitals to help treat drug overdose or a poisoning, mushroom poisoning, accidental poisoning, and to help soothe the itching sensation that some people feel while receiving dialysis treatment. You can purchase this inexpensive substance over-the-counter and take it at home for those times when you have stomach upsets from gas, diarrhea, or other stomach issues. When you take activated charcoal, drugs and toxins* will bind to it. This helps rid the body of unwanted substances. Charcoal is made from coal, wood, or other substances.

VARIOUS TYPES OF CLAY

BENTONITE CLAY is an aluminum phyllosilicate clay consisting mostly of montmorillonite, also called Fuller’s Earth. It was named by Wilbur C. Knight in 1898 after the Cretaceous Benton Shale near Rock River, Wyoming. It is somewhat different from the other types of clay. When Bentonite is added to water, the molecular structure changes and an electrical charge is produced. The clay swells like a sponge, attracting toxins* into the mixture and once they are drawn, they are bound to the clay because of the electric charge.  Bentonite is found in Montana as a soft porous rock composed of clayey minerals in various colors and used chiefly in oil well drilling and in pharmacy and skin care.  The principal constituent, montmorillonite is RMgAl₅Si12O30(OH)₆•nH₂O, an adsorbent.

Bentonite clay is volcanic ash and the largest deposits come from Wyoming and Montana. After mining, it is brought into the sun to remove excess water, so it is easier to work with. Finely ground clay powder is sent off for use in baths and facials.

            Pascalite Clay is the source of rare calcium Bentonite and is used for a variety of health purposes both internally and externally.  It can be best classified as calcium bentonite-montmorillonite of the non-swelling type. It’s categorized as white clay, but this unique mineral is cream-colored from an area located in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming, USA. More powerful than other clays! Pascalite is a family owed business and by supporting them you are supporting real human beings and not a corporate company. See the Source list.

 BLUE CLAY can occur naturally in the soil – it occurs in South Carolina, it occurs in Canada and Scotland – or white clay can be colored blue by adding an azulene essential oil, that adds natural occurring blue pigments as well. Gault Clay is a formation of stiff blue clay deposited in a calm, fairly deep-marine environment during the Lower Cretaceous Period (Upper and Middle Albion). It is well exposed in the coastal cliffs parts of England, and is found on the south side of The North Downs and the north side of the South Downs. It is also to be found beneath the scarp of the hills in Oxfordshire, England, and on the Isle of Wight where it is known as Blue Slipper clay. The Gault underlies the chalk beneath the London basin; the lower Gault is present only below the outer parts of the basin and is absent under central London.

            I was given a wonderful container of Blue clay from a field in Scotland by Tracy and Don Bruce. They were at their Bruce Family reunion in Scotland and had quite an adventure obtaining this substance for me. See Sources.

            Bluestone Clay from Canada is used in body and facial masks. Bluestoneclay, Box 49, Bamfield BC (General Delivery), VOR1BO, Canada. https://bluestoneclay.webs.com/  I loved obtaining this clay and using it.

            Cambrian Blue Clay: A Cambrian Clay comes from Western Siberia and some other places and is high in minerals and salts. This clay comes in a wet form.  It can be added to cold process soaps, facial masks or scrubs.  This clay is ready to be used immediately. Cambrian Clay in a product helps with oily skin and adds nourishing properties to the soap. This clay will give a grayish-blue color and pleasant, exfoliating properties. I love this clay and have used it for over 10 years.

FULLER’S EARTH is mainly montmorillonite and attapulgite. You can obtain it everywhere including pharmacy and discount stores. It is used to lighten the skin tone. It has many uses including as cat litter, cloth production, cleaning marble and in cosmetics and skin care. It is excellent for oily skin. Another name for Fuller’s Earth is Bentonite. See above.

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GREEN & FRENCH GREEN CLAY is also known as Sea Clay and is one of the most widely used in the cosmetics industry. The clay gets a green color from naturally decomposed plants and iron oxides. True French green clay will never be white or gray; the color should be green or off green. The molecular makeup of the clay is adsorbent to the skin. Not all French green clay comes from France. Some green clay comes from Wyoming, Montana and China, but the French have had the market cornered for so long; it has just become known as French green clay. You can improve your green clay and make it better by adding powdered herbs such as Parsley to increase the healing action and the amount of chlorophyll.

            Green Zeolite Clay has incredibly high purity. The clay is used for odor adsorption and ion exchange. Green Zeolite Clay has exceptional adsorption properties. It is sterilized and free of bacteria. This is the clay from the famous Amargosa Valley of New Mexico. When you add a teaspoon of Green Zeolite Clay to a glass of water, the ionic properties of them is such that they electromagnetically attract and bind with heavy metals, toxins and radiation particles in your blood, through the cells in your intestinal walls and they are then released or passed out of the body in the feces (creating nuclear waste – but better out of your body rather than in your body).

KAOLIN CLAY or WHITE CLAY is a naturally occurring clay mineral, also known as china clay and can be bright white in color, with several lighter shades of pink. Kaolin or China Clay, originally from Kiangsi in SE China, is a fine white clay that used in fine ceramics and in cosmetics as an adsorbent.  Its principal constituent is kaolinite Al2Si2O5(OH)4. Kaolin can make a range of goods ranging from pottery to paper and in beauty. It is ground into a fine powder used in skin care and masks.

            The first clay that I used in my adult life was from the company Abracadabra owned by Warren Raysor. This company started almost 50 years ago. He had several to choose from. When I asked him for a quote for this article, this is what he sent, “I like the white clay, Kaolin, named after Mt. Kaolin somewhere in China., pure aluminum silicate. the foundation (I’m making a pun here), of the mineral Expansion – Contraction – Absorption principle. Good for drawing out. The crystal is shaped like a newspaper page, big L and W, but the H is probably only a molecule…almost only two dimensions …it’s a two dimensional thing really…and when hydrated by water (another two dimensional thing) the plates separate…now granted that full hydration can take a month…the ‘clay body’ expands and as it dries out – it creates an almost complete vacuum. Don’t forget to rinse…well.”

           I also remember a great quote from Warren when we were talking about starting a new business, something like “clay is a bad choice as a business start-up, as a customer only needs 1-box in a lifetime”.

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            PINK CLAY. Mix Kaolin Clay and Rhassoul or Red Clay together and you will get a pinkish clay that some prefer. It is milder than red clay and a bit stronger than white clay.

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MONTMORILLONITE. See Fullers Earth, French Clay and Bentonite.

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MOOR MUD is not clay. It is a therapeutic peat moss. I have always used the Neydharting Moor as it is a lowland Moor and originates in various layers of plants which are never totally decomposed, and due to relatively wet conditions and lack of air, the organisms in the earth are slowed down leaving the Moor alive for a long time. This moor is considered a better choice for a bath.

           “Moor mud is a most prized ancient medicinal therapy. It has been used for centuries to balance, detoxify, and tone the body.” Moor mud is the unique product of time and nature that started when the last Ice Age began to retreat. Valley’s brimming with plant life formed and were isolated from the rest of the world. The plants became submerged under the lakes formed by the melting glaciers. Over time, this area became a rich, live deposit of organic substances with all of the properties of the plants intact.” Analysis of Moor mud shows that it contains over 1000 organic botanicals, trace minerals and elements, enzymes, natural antibiotics, vitamins and phyto-hormones” — from a Moor mud brochure.

            It makes a great mask or a bath. “Large moor regions are found mainly in the colder regions of the world, on siliceous, primary rock subsoil. The Moor has its own typical plant world, dominated by the mosses, which thrive there, spreading out into a luxuriant, spongy carpet, under which all life suffocates. The moor is continually becoming thicker — the dead plant parts sink into the water, rot there without oxygen, then are deposited in the soil and slowly but surely change into peat.”

            “Administered to the skin sparingly, it wraps the human body in a protective coating, so the defensive mechanisms of the body are stimulated to counter the negative influences (in the environment).”  — Dr. Hauschka The Herb Book (1975)

         Moor mud is a potent natural healing substance, an organic mixture of ancient plant material. Regular Moor baths can nourish and rejuvenate the body and detox and reduce inflammation of the tissues; the issues that are considered a major cause of skin aging, wrinkles and many of the pains and illnesses to which humans are subjected. Moor mud needs to be applied fresh to maintain its therapeutic quality.

         Moor Peat Mud Therapy Body Mask. I use the Neydharting Moor mud from Austria and usually in a bath. It can also be applied to the entire body as a wrap. Make the clay pack and cover the body and then wrap in warmed smooth linen sheets, allowing time for the mud mask to penetrate. The black mud does stain the linen. Moor helps heal, soothe and rejuvenate tired muscles and dull skin. Moor is detoxifying and acts as an excellent anti-inflammatory: soothing to the skin, muscle and joints. The feet and scalp are massaged during the wrap. After rinsing, massage the body with a rehydrating lotion to which essential oils are added. 

         Moor mud wraps are seen on the SPA menus of the world’s finest spas for complete body care. In addition to its cosmetic use as a natural exfoliant, detoxifier and cellulite reducer, Moor mud can be used in poultices to reduce swelling, reduce inflammation, to draw out abscesses, and to promote healing with minimized scar formation.

         Moor mud is black but totally dissolves in your bath water. You cannot see through the water, but it does not leave your bathtub ‘dirty’.  For a real home treatment, you must use five-seven soaking baths, spaced every 2-3 days, using 5-7 ounces of Moor mud in each bath. Run a very warm to hot bath, add the Moor mud and soak quietly for at least 20 minutes. Get out of the tub and wrap yourself in a towel to just towel dry. I prefer to use heavy linen towels for this. Put on your bedclothes and go straight to bed. Use no soap with these baths and use them at night before bedtime.

         Recipe for Body mask or wrapping with Moor mud.  Natural Moor mud has a nice consistency and many types are available. It is excellent for mud body wraps or body masks. Moor mud is for general detoxification, pain treatment, a slimming body wrap to reduce size and to aid in the removal of cellulite.

         Apply an even layer of the warm peat to the treated area or the whole body and wrap in a thermal blanket or foil. Leave on for about 20 to 30 minutes, then rinse and relax while wrapped in a warm, dry blanket for 20 minutes. 1 bottle (36 oz or 1 liter) is good for 4 to 8 wraps or for 5 baths.

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RHASSOUL OR RED CLAY (MOROCCAN RED CLAY) comes from Morocco, and has been in use for centuries as soap, shampoo, and now as a skin conditioner in some the finest spas in the world. It comes from the Atlas Mountains in Eastern Morocco and resembles silky earth when refined. It is adsorbent and effective for cleaning and detoxifying. It reduces dryness, flakiness and improves skin’s clarity, texture and elasticity.

            Red Clay is in Vermilion, Alberta, Canada and as a matter of fact, the city is named after the red clay found in the river valley. One of the first businesses in Vermilion was the brick factory for fine red brick which operated from 1906 until 1914.

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YELLOW CLAY is composed of fine mineral particles, 48% silica, and iron oxides which determine its color. It contains iron, but no aluminum. It is a very mild clay and used on dry or sensitive skin. It is a pale-yellow colored powder. You can enhance the yellow color and therapeutic value with the addition of finely ground or powdered yellow Calendula flowers. Use yellow clay in a mask or body pack with a bit of Calendula infused oil.

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MAKING A CLAY MASK

Every clay facial mixture contains a clay and a liquid; plain water, hydrosol or distilled water for the liquid. Use a glass, pottery or wooden bowl, (not metal) and add the clay to the liquid, wait for 1-minute before you do anything, Stir with a non-metal object. I use a very narrow flat wooden spatula. (See picture earlier in this article.) The clay will form into a smooth paste. Use equal parts clay and liquid or start out with less liquid because you can always add more. Allow the clay to stand for a few minutes to absorb the moisture. Apply a ⅛ to ¼ inch thick layer to the face and let it dry. It usually takes 5 minutes for delicate skin and 15 to 20 minutes for normal skin, but if it is wet, it is still working. The pulling and tightening sensation is normal and what you want to happen. Do not let the clay mask get very stiff and dry. Remove the clay by washing off with plenty of warm water. There may be a slight redness, this is normal and will disappear in a few hours. If a rash should happen to appear, discontinue the mask or try a gentler treatment or less potent clay.

Do not use hydrosols as the liquid in the clay mask unless you know the hydrosol. Lavender is especially tricky as many distillers are distilling a camphor-based Lavender plant instead of an ester-based plant. A camphor Lavender hydrosol will cause redness.

The clays make the perfect base for a facial. Use them as is or why not make them special with unique liquids, scent or herbs for even more natural elements for the face. Try using aloe vera juice, honey, apple cider vinegar or floral waters mixed with the clay. Powdered herbs and tiny amounts of essential oils when added to the clay create a luxurious scented mask.

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CLAY AND HERBS ~ A basic recipe for a dozen masks includes 2-3 oz. of clay with 1-2 oz. of powdered herbs added. Some herbs to try with the clay are finely ground Calendula petals, Chamomile centers, Comfrey leaf, Lavender flower, Marshmallow root and Peppermint leaves. Ground Comfrey root and Slippery elm bark are good for dry skin. Rose petal powder adds some fragrance and citrus peel powder is good for astringency. Neem powder or charcoal has an anti-bacterial quality for acne and Oatmeal, Almond meal or milk powders soothe the skin.

Mix your herbal mixtures first and store away in clean dry glass containers. Label them. Add the clay to the water just before you wish to use a mask.

Use a mask in the morning, at least 8 hours before you plan to go out for the evening. And don’t try something new just before an important evening.

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Mix herbs with clay ahead, label, and store for future use. Mix the herbal clay with herbal waters and use for many skin care and therapeutic purpose. Read the Herbal Body Book, by this author to find out about the herbs. Face-Kit is a new company mixing herbs and clay and hydrosols for wonderful facial masks.

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CLAY AND ESSENTIAL OILS ~ ADD ESSENTIAL OILS in with the herbs for fragrance or therapy. There is a danger when adding EO to clay. They are very concentrated, and you will only need 1/5th of a drop of EO to any one clay mask. One drop can be too much for one mask. You will have to dilute 1 drop of essential oil in 5 drops of carrier oil and then use only one drop of the diluted oil in any one mask. When making enough clay for 5 or more masks, then add 1-drop of your essential oil mixture with the clay, let it settle and remember to stir all together before application.

            On a recent Facebook page, I was asked for advice regarding using essential oils in clay. My response was … “In a mask where there is a teaspoon of clay, a teaspoon of fluid, 1-drop of EO is too much for skin it will be touching. Think of the massage therapist – how much EO do they use for the entire body and then reduce that down to 12 square inches of face space. Any amount of EO is too much in one facial mask of clay plus the fact that you may be using a hydrosol. [The average adult has about eight pounds (3.6 kilograms), or about 22 square feet (2 square meters) of skin. It may help to put that in perspective — a standard doorway is 21 square feet, and the average adult’s skin would fill all of that space]”.

            Prima Fleur has a wonderful clay mask made with pure kaolin clay to exfoliate and draw impurities from the skin. It is rich in minerals and the clay has been in use for thousands of years to protect and treat skin ailments. Add a bit of pumice to the clay and some herbs as well. The drawing properties of the clay provide detoxification while the gentle exfoliation of fine pumice leaves skin soft and supple. The appealing color and the smooth texture of the clays enhance the experience. Prima Fleur suggests that you enhance the experience and benefits with hydrosols, and carrier oils pre-mixed with preferred essential oil(s). Mix all together and blend to a creamy consistency.

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RECIPES AND FORMULAS

           It is easy to put together a clay mask or pack: simply take a bit of clay (1 T.), add clay to the water/hydrosol, enough, wait, use a non-metal mixer or your finger to mix and apply. Let it dry but not hard and then remove with plenty of water.  Follow with a spray of mineral water or hydrosol. [do not add water to the clay].

For sensitive skin: Use white or Blue clay and aloe vera gel and add less than 1 drop of Rose, Neroli, Chamomile blue or Roman.  Do not go overboard on essential oils but try mixing a few of them together. Mix the 4 drops of EO into 20-drops of carrier oil and then use only 1 drop of this for 1 face mask.

For normal skin: Use Green clay with Rose Geranium hydrosol and add no more than 1 drop total of Lavender, Juniper, Rose geranium or Chamomile. Do not go overboard on essential oils because they are concentrated but try mixing a few of them together. Mix the 4 drops of EO into 15 drops of carrier oil and then use only 1 drop of this for 1 face mask.

For dry skin: Use French green clay and Rose hydrosol. If you add essential oils add no more than 1 drop total of mixed Rose, Blue Chamomile, Neroli and Sandalwood and add a carrier oil, Marula, Olive or Almond to dilute the EO first. Or you can add honey, yogurt or an egg yolk with the essential oil and clay mixture and blend well. Do not go overboard on essential oils but try mixing a few of them together. Mix the 4 drops of EO into 15 drops of milk, honey or yogurt and then use only 1 drop of this for 1 face mask.

For oily skin: Use Red clay with 2 drops total of mixed Ylang Ylang, Lemon, Lavender, Rosemary and Rose Geranium. Mix in an egg white for more drawing power. Do not go overboard on essential oils. Try mixing a few of them together. Mix the 4 drops of EO into 15 drops of egg white and then use only 1 drop of this for 1 face mask.

Wrinkled or sun damaged skin benefits from adding yogurt, mashed Avocado or Banana with a drop of the essential oils mentioned. Do not go overboard on essential oils but try mixing a few of them together. Mix the 1 drops of EO into 1 spoonful of Avocado or Banana and then use only 1 drop or 1-dab of this for 1 face mask.

Full body masks of clay are quite popular in spas. Apply them approximately ½ inch thick or less over the body parts, avoiding sensitive areas like the eyes and mouth. It will take at least an hour to dry so this is a perfect time to listen to music or do meditation. Add aromatherapy to the experience by diffusing Elemi and Lavender, or Orange and Sandalwood into the air. Shower off the mask when dry (the clay will not harm drains). This is a treat when you want to pamper yourself in the hot summer. Experiment with different mixtures and recipes and give these fantastic masks to your friends as aromatherapy gifts. Take a cue from ancient cultures and make clay spa treatments at home. It’s fun to come up with your own recipes and healthy for your skin at the same time.

            Read the Herbal Body Book by this author for many recipes and formulas. Clay Masks and Herbal Masks are listed in the Herbal Body Book p. 184-194 and “The Aromatherapy Book” pages 243-244 and various clays are mentioned specifically on pages 48, 49, 56 and 244.

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 Recipe for Clay Mask for Aging Skin. For mature skin, it often helps to also use a bit of oil in the mask to form a creamy texture that will not dry out completely. Use any oil, Olive, Marula or whatever you choose.

Formula. Combine: 1 tsp of Elder flowers + 1 tsp of Chamomile flowers. Infuse in 2 oz. of boiling water.  Cool until cool enough to use.

Take 1 T. of clay and add to the 1 T. of the water or hydrosol. >Add clay to water Let the clay soak into the water. Apply to clean skin. Let dry 15 minutes.  Remove with plenty of water and follow with a gentle tonic hydrosol spray.

OR Combine the 2 oz. cool flower water with 1 drop of Patchouli essential oil, 1 drop of Palmarosa essential oil and 5 drops of carrier oil, mix AND to this add the Rhassoul (red) clay, enough to make a paste that will spread on the face.  Allow to dry 15-20 minutes but not until it is hard. Rinse with warm water and spray with a hydrosol.

Formula for anybody. It is easy to put together a clay mask or pack: simply take a bit of clay (1-T.), and ADD to water/hydrosol, let it soak a bit, enough to mix, using a non-metal mixer or your finger and apply. Let it dry and then remove with plenty of water.

October 1978 – Esalen Clay Class by Jeanne Rose

Having fun at the baths rolling in various types of clay and the sulfur water of Esalen.

Preparing a Clay Compress for an infection. First, one pre-makes clay for use. This author prefers a super-hydrated, super-wet clay, to the point that no further water can be added without causing a separation of the clay. Here is where I do prefer a drop of EO to be added that will treat the infection (boil, pimple, acne).

         Add clay to water. When you add clay to water, a slurry forms because the clay distributes itself evenly throughout the water. When water is added to clay mud forms and the clay cannot distribute. Apply clay pack to skin. Cover with plastic wrap. Cover with cloth. Try to keep warm. Leave on for 30 minutes or more. Then remove and apply Bruise Juice.

            The more often you do this, the more the infection will come to the surface. The pimple will form and then pop and be removed in the clay mask.

Moor Mud with clay Mask to create strong anti-bacterial/anti-fungal treatment. Treats psoriasis, eczema and fungi. Strong anti-inflammatory action thanks to high percentage of humic acids and sulphur. Mix wet Moor with water and add the clay to this black goop. Spread it on, let it dry. Take a steam and wash yourself.

Nice Seaweed Clay Mask. This should make 2 masks 
1 T blue clay (or other color, depending on skin type)
1 T powdered Seaweed, any kind
½ -drop essential oil (Rose Geranium)

Mix the seaweed with 4 T. hydrosol or water for 30 minutes and then add the clay to the liquid and essential oil to the mixture to make a paste. (About 4 T). Apply to face. Relax, Shower or bathe and remove mask with plenty of water.

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MORE INFORMATION SOME WHAT REPETITIVE

Clay Compress. A clay compress is quite different from a poultice.  You use a compress if the body is weak or debilitated or when you only have a small amount of clay to work with or when you have no time for a poultice or if a full poultice would be too difficult or when a large area requires periodic or constant treatment.

         Clay compresses (or multiple compresses) may be prepared, placed on the body, secured with tape OR bands or a wrap and the person can go on with their daily life.

Preparing a Clay Compress. Add twice as much clay to the water as you would for a poultice. You want it to look like a thick watery mud.

         Method 1. Lay a waterproof plastic sheet on a table. Place a clean, white, cotton dressing on the waterproof sheet, and apply the clay to only one side of the dressing. Enough clay should be used so that one cannot see the dressing through the clay. Too much clay added will cause clay to leak from the sides once the compress is placed on the body. Depending on the density of the clay used, these types of clay compresses can be left on the body for between twenty minutes and 3.5 hours. Lay on the table with the clay touching the skin.

Wrap the dressing around you and cover with a cotton blanket or if wrapped correctly so the compress doesn’t leak, you can walk around.  Whenever you feel that it is ‘done’ take a warm healing bath with Rosemary and Lavender herb (wrap them first in a cloth or place in a rice ball).

         Method 2. Take a clean soft white cotton or muslin cloth and completely soak it in the clay water. The cloth will be completely saturated. Place the cloth on the area that is being treated. Cover with saran wrap so that your clothes or bedding does not get wet. Change the compress every 15-30 minutes. You can also add a warmed towel to the top (over the saran wrap) to keep the area warm.

         There are SPAs where this can be done, and it is much easier for someone else to make the clay pack and apply it than it is for you to do it to yourself. It is relatively easy to do this to your own arms and legs but with a full-body compress or poultice, you will need help.

         Leaving a clay compress on the body to the point that it dries out can cause some difficulties with the skin, with prolonged use. Every situation is unique, and one must use good judgment when deciding how long each compress can remain on the body. The higher the adsorption ability of clay, often the longer a compress can be left on the body before necessitating a change.

         When preparing a clay compress, always fashion the compress to the exact needed size; one can even cut the dressing to comfortably mold and fit precisely on the desired treatment location.

         Or go naked and let the sun dry your clay pack.

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JEANNE ROSE CLAY TOMATO TALE OF THE DAY

            Teenage Acne. Long ago when my son was in his teens, I noticed that he was getting acne and was developing some pus’y pimples on his face. He had asked me some questions about acne, and I had already gone to the store and purchased a container of “Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay” and had removed the bottom of the box very carefully and mixed in quite a bit of ground and powdered Parsley herb and then replaced the bottom. The Aztec clay was sitting quietly in the bathroom waiting to be found and used.  I mentioned the clay to him again and how to make a clay pack and how it worked. Later that evening as I was lying in bed reading — these questions always happen either at 10 p.m. while I am in bed or in the car while drive 70 m/h — my son walked into my bedroom and started to talk to me. I very carefully ignored the fact that his face was bright green and covered with the clay mask that I had previously altered. And I certainly did not laugh out loud as I wanted to do. Teenage boys are very delicate and if you laugh at their efforts to do the right thing, they are sure to stop doing those things. So, no laughing even though seeing your handsome son with a green clay face mask is quite amusing. Every night we went through the same ritual, I went to bed, he went to the bathroom, applied a green mask, and then came into talk to me and each time I ignored his face. Finally, after about a week, he came in to show me that his face was beginning to show a rash around the chin. At that point I knew that the Parsley Face Mask had done its job and his face had had enough. I suggested that he stop with the mask for at least 2-weeks and see it they had cured his skin. In the morning, his face was completely clear, no pus’y pimples, no acne and within 24 hours the chin rash was healed, and he never had the problem again. The clay mask had worked its magic.

            Body Odor and Clay. When my daughter began to go through her puberty, I could find no books that dealt with the subject. Ultimately, in 1987, I wrote, the Modern Herbal, now sadly out-of-print which dealt with this issue and others. When these girls began to develop, they also began to develop a horrible body odor, and it seemed that no amount of bathing could solve the problem. The odor was detectable on the breath as well as on the body and was rather sour, offensive and very pungent. “In our household we solved this problem easily. We simply added clay to the diet.” The edible clays available on the market are tasteless. They adsorb toxins and are excreted in the feces. One teaspoon of edible green clay taken in a half glass of water followed by a full glass of water, night and morning for 1-week solved our problem completely. The girls no longer had any nasty body odor and therefore did not need to use the strong antiperspirants nor the antibacterial soaps.”¹

Other Tales of Clay.

Tracy Feldstein … “I still use the blue clay you gave me, Jeanne. It is wonderful! With hydrosol and a single drop of the Blue Chamomile oil I got from you, well, a little goes such a long way and the results are amazing. I used to use steroid cream for psoriasis. Now I use plants, and they work so much better.”

Leenie Hobbie … “I used Bentonite clay, a variety of salts, and mashed Plantain (Plantago major) leaves to heal a brown recluse bite. It was a sloooooow, long healing. The area around the bite/necrotic tissue sort of isolated itself from the healthy tissue. It formed a sac-like structure and began to peel away. I used poultices and soaks daily and held my Plantain/salt slurries in place through the day and overnight with clay. Eventually, the small sac was hanging by the tiniest bit of tissue and I was standing in a pond one day and a small trout swam up and bit the sac of necrotic tissue off. Later my doctor friend said that my intuitive treatment was a good one because lancing or cutting it in any way would have driven the poison back into my bloodstream. That is my Tomato tale about a fish and a spider and clay.”

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Sources for Clay:
•Blue Clay quarry in Scotland collierhaulage.co.uk/blue–clay/ …This is a quarry. You might have better luck going in person.
. Mailing ~ Bluestone clay, box 49, Bamfield, bc, general delivery, v0r1b0, Canada
•Indian Healing Clay. Easily available.
•Kentucky Based Stone Producer. 1 800 272 0441 ask for Lisa or Bruce or email to
•Pascalite Clay, 306 Lawson, PO Box 104, Worland, WY 82401, ph. 307-347-3872, , www.pascalite.com.
•Mountain Rose Herbs.
•www.face-kit.com for clay and fruit masks

Sources for Essential Oils:
I use only two sources for essential oils, and they are Eden Botanicals and Prima Fleur Botanicals.

Books to Read and Books to Use
¹.Rose, Jeanne. Jeanne Rose’s Modern Herbal. 1987

Abehsera, Michel. The Healing Clay (I have had my book so long that it is held together with rubber bands).  1979.

 Abehsera, Michel. The Healing Power of Clay. I believe that this is the same as the above.

Rose, Jeanne. The Aromatherapy Book and 375 Essential Oils & Hydrosols. /

Rose, Jeanne. . /books.html

Rose, Jeanne. The Herbal Studies Course. 2009. /

Sherwood, Patricia. Clay Therapy

Jeanne Rose in the early days – at home

Author Bio: JEANNE ROSE is the founder of New Age Creations, the first body-care company in the United States to use aromatherapy (since 1968) based on the formulas she invented and used in ; she is the Director of both the Herbal Studies Course and the Aromatherapy Studies Course by home-study and Distance-Learning and with in-person Seminars.  She brings 45 years of experience and personal research in her practice of Aromatherapy. She is the author of 24 books on herbs and aromatherapy, Jeanne Rose has also authored, 375 Essential Oils & Hydrosols, which is a complete reference book of 375 aromatic plant extracts and hydrosols with phytochemical, clinical and botanical indices. In 2003, a Distillation Handbook and the book of Lavender, Lavender, Lavender, was published.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

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